Ashland electricity rate hike agreed

Ashland council has voted to increase electricity rates by 4 percent effective October 20. the move comes after the Bonneville Power Administration, which wholesales electricity to the city of Ashland’s electric utility, announced its own 99.5percent rate hike.

The 4-percent increase comes on top of a 10 percent water rate hike that came into effect in May, and a 6 percent sewer bill increase, effective from June.

the Jackson County Fuel Committee had asked councilors not to raise rates, and called for a November through march moratorium on cutoffs for unpaid electricity bills.